Confronting the money men at Davos: the finance sector is culpable for the climate emergency

It was intense; it was sometimes completely enraging and at other times heartwarming. It was the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos.

Representing the millions of Greenpeace supporters, I was there last week to highlight the role of the finance sector in the climate emergency. To this end, Greenpeace International released "It’s the finance sector, stupid," a report showing how 24 banks have pumped US$1.4 trillion into fossils fuels since the Paris Agreement through to 2018, despite these institutions claiming support for the climate accord and for the WEF's mission of "improving the state of the world." 

Banks like JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citi and Barclays. Also in on the act are insurers such as AIG and pension funds like the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.

Oceans, with a focus on plastics and deep sea ocean mining, was an additional focus for Greenpeace at Davos where I discussed the importance of the Global Ocean Treaty.

It was a busy focussed few days that would not have been possible without an amazing team behind me every step of the way.